Potteries soldier Archie Galbraith is preparing to head out to Afghanistan later this year as part of a support mission.

The Lance Corporal is one of 110 soldiers from D (Dragon) Company, 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment who will take part in the ten week deployment in Autumn.

And Archie, who is one of the Battalion’s physical training instructors says he feels ready for the operation – while community leaders in Stoke-on-Trent have been quick to back him and his fellow troops.

(Image: Mercian Regiment)

The soldiers will take part in the deployment to Op TORAL - the British contribution to the non-combat NATO’s Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan.

It is being rolled out to bolster the work of the 1st Battalion The Welsh Guards who are already deployed and providing ‘force protection’ for NATO advisors and mentors who are assisting the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces.

The Mercian Regiment’s 2nd Battalion has recently moved to Cyprus where its soldiers are ready for duty in anywhere across the globe with Dragon Company currently the lead company.

Archie, who is from Stoke-on-Trent, said: “I was excited to move to Cyprus and now I’m looking forward to the deployment. The training we have done has been very enjoyable.”

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“As a city, we are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a national initiative which helps to ensure those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.”

The Autumn deployment will be the first time the Regiment has had a collective presence in Afghanistan since it deployed on Op HERRICK in 2013.